American State Papers,
Indian Affairs,
March 3, 1789 to March 3, 1815.
vol. 1.
566 |
INDIAN AFFAIRS. |
[1795. |
all the people of the Fifteen Fires, with shouts of joy, and peals of
artillery, will celebrate the period which gave them freedom. Nineteen times
have the United States, already, hailed the return of that auspicious morn;
to-morrow, we shall, for the twentieth time, salute the annual return of this
happy day, rendered still more dear by the brotherly union of the American and
red people; to-morrow, all the people within these lines will rejoice; you, my
brothers, shall also rejoice, in your respective encampments. I called you
together to explain these matters to you; do not, therefore, be alarmed at the
report of our big guns; they will do no harm; they will be the harbingers of
peace and gladness, and their roar will ascend into the heavens. The flag of the
United States, and the colors of this legion, shall be given to the wind, to be
fanned by its gentlest breeze, in honor of the birth-day of American freedom. I
will now shew you our colors, that you may know them to-morrow; formerly, they
were displayed as ensigns of war and battle; now, they will be exhibited as
emblems of peace and happiness. This Eagle, which you now see, holds close his
bunch of arrows, whilst he seems to stretch forth, as a more valuable offering,
the inestimable branch of peace; the Great Spirit seems disposed to incline us
all, to repose, for the future, under its grateful shade, and wisely enjoy the
blessings which attend it.
Mash-i-pi-nash-i-wish, chief of the Chippewas, arose, and spoke as follows:
ELDER BROTHER:
I have heard your words, and have received great pleasure from them. I never make long speeches; what I have to say, I say in a few words. Look at your warriors around you, and view ours. Does it not give you pleasure to see us all met together in brotherly love?
ELDER BROTHER: You may believe what I say, and what I am going to say. As we are here on good business, our hearts must dictate what our tongues express. The Great Spirit knows when we speak truth, and punishes falsehood. As you have told us we are to rejoice, I have a favor to ask of you, compliance with which will prepare our hearts for the occasion. We would wish to rescue from death two of your young warriors, whom we brought in to you, and whom we hear are to die. I entreat you, in the name of all present, to spare their lives, and pray you to indulge us in this request. [A white and blue string.]
Te-ta-boksh-ke, king of the Delawares, thus spoke:
ELDER BROTHER:
I thank you for having kindly explained to us what will take place to-morrow. Our young men shall all be informed of it. We thank you for your attention to us. We will sincerely rejoice on the happy occasion.
The General replied-
BROTHERS:
I have heard your words, and will answer you presently. As I never speak without deliberation, you may depend on what I say.
BROTHERS: I have considered your request respecting the two warriors condemned to die. I will now answer you. The two men condemned to death are not those whom you brought to me, but two very bad men, from another quarter. I desired this good man (Doctor Jones) to prepare the minds of these men for the awful change they are about to experience. We put no men to death without giving them time to repent, and to whiten their hearts. The lives of the two men whom you brought int, (although very culpable) are now granted to your humane entreaties. That you may all remember that, to-morrow, and ever anniversary of it, the Americans rejoice, I now present each nation with a white string of wampum. We will now retire, and hope that to-morrow's dawn may be propitious to the happy occasion. [Wampum.]
July 4.- A-goosh-a-way, and
twenty-three Ottawas, from the vicinity of Detroit, arrived, and had audience.
The General addressed them:
BROTHERS:
I take you all by the hand. I am happy to see you. You must be hungry and dry. I will order you refreshments to make your hearts glad. The hearts of your brothers are also made glad this day. I will no longer detain you from taking that repose of which you seem to stand in so much need. I deliver this string as a proof of my happiness in seeing you. [A white string.]
A-goosh-a-way spoke as follows:
BROTHER:
those nations who are now represented at this meeting, are probably all you may reasonably expect; as for the Shawanese and Wyandots of Detroit, I do not believe they will come. I frequently told them they ought to advance without hesitation, but they still continue irresolute, and hover round their enemies, the British. I cannot discover the motives which actuate the Wyandots. The Six Nations sent two letters, prevailing on me to wait their junction; but finding they delayed , and suspecting their sincerity, I came away without waiting long for them.
July 9.- In Council: Present the chiefs of the Delawares, Ottawas, Chippewas, Pattawatamies, Miami, and Wabash tribes.
The General arose and addressed them as follows:
YOUNGER BROTHERS:
I take you all by the hand, and welcome you to this council fire. Viewing the number of nations who, last winter, signed the preliminary articles, I perceive all are present except the Wyandots of Sandusky and Shawanese. It is now twenty-five days since the council fire was kindled at this place; it has continued to burn bright, and it has happily dissipated the clouds which have hung over the people of Sandusky. They now see that the sky is clear and serene, that the roads are open, and free of thorns. Four runners arrived from them last evening, to announce to me the near approach of all the chiefs of the Wyandots and others of Sandusky. The intelligence which these messengers have brought me, is this: that the dark cloud which enveloped the Shawanese in the neighborhood of the British post, (for that, my brothers, is a very cloudy place) has also been dispelled; that they have at length awoke from their intoxicated slumber, and are now on their feet, coming to this place. They and the Wyandots, &c. of Sandusky, may be expected to arrive here in the course of three days.
The question then is, shall we now name the day upon which to begin the great and good work, or, shall we wait the arrival of those chiefs, and have their united voice on the subject?
This is all I shall propose at present, until I hear your respective opinions.
The Little Turtle made some remarks on the General's speech, to the other chiefs, and gave them some reasons why the fixing of the day should be postponed, when
A-goosh-a-way, an Ottawa chief, arose and said,
ELDER BROTHER:
I am much obliged to you for requiring our opinions on this matter. 'Tis true, as the Little Turtle has observed to us, that we have been here a long time waiting, but it will be best to remain contented a few days longer, that we may begin the good work all together. I now present you our pipe, and hope that you and your warriors will smoke it.
ELDER BROTHER: You see that all your chiefs, as well as ours, have smoked out of this calumet of peace, and the Great Spirit is well pleased to see it. The calumet does not now speak; it remains silent until the arrival of our brothers, who are on their way.
American State Papers,
Indian Affairs,
March 3, 1789 to March 3, 1815.
vol. 1.
|
1795.] |
TREATY OF GREENVILLE. |
567 |
The General arose and said:
YOUNGER BROTHERS:
Twenty-five days ago the calumet of peace of the Fifteen Fires of the United States was smoked in this house; it did not then speak; and it yet remains silent. I am pleased to hear you all concur in opinion with the Little Turtle, that we should wait the arrival of our brothers, the Wyandots and Shawanese. I therefore proposed that we shall meet again at this place on Monday next. [A white string to each nation present.]
Council adjourned to Monday the 13th.
|
MONDAY, July 13. |
At the request of the Wyandot chiefs (who arrived on the 12th) and others, the meeting proposed for this day is postponed until Wednesday, the 15th; some necessary regulations among them not having been decided upon.
|
WEDNESDAY, July 15. |
In Council, agreeable to adjournment: Present the chiefs of the Wyandots, Delawares, Ottawas, Chippewas, Pattawatamies, Miamies, and Wabash tribes.
The Council opened with swearing in the interpreters; after which, the General addressed the Indians thus:
YOUNGER BROTHERS:
These interpreters whom you have now seen sworn, have called the Great Spirit to witness, that they will faithfully interpret all the speeches made by me to you, and by you to me; and the Great Spirit will punish them severely hereafter, if they do not religiously fulfil their sacred promise.
This is the calumet of peace of the Fifteen Fires of the United States of America: I shall first present it to the soldier (Wabash tribe) who first took us by the hand, as I do not yet know which nation among you is in future to have the precedence; the next were the Wyandots, who came forward last fall early; the next were the Ottawas, Chippewas, Pattawatamies and Sauckeys; and the next were the Delawares.
YOUNGER BROTHERS: All the chiefs and warriors of the different nations present, I now take you all by the hand. It was my wish to have waited for the arrival of the Shawanese, Wyandots of Detroit, and some Chippewas, who I learn are on their way; but as it is the desire of the chiefs present to commence the business generally, I will now shew them by what authority I hold this treaty.
Treaties made by all nations on this earth ought to be held sacred and binding between the contracting parties; hence it is the practice to commission certain persons with powers to make and conclude stipulated articles of treaties accordingly. These books contain treaties which have been held with all the Indian nations in North America, and shew what has been said and done at each, without the smallest alteration. In the first place, this is a commission appointing me Commander-in-chief of the American legion, presented to me by General Washington, and the Fifteen Fires, three years since. On the 4th day of April, 1794, I received a commission from the same authority, for settling a peace with all the tribes of Indians, northwest of the Ohio. I will now read another commission, given me on the 15th day of April last. [Here the General read the renewal of his powers as commissioner to treat with the Indians.]
Having thus produced my authority, given me by General Washington, and the Fifteen Fires, I will now proceed to review the preliminary articles which we mutually entered into and exchanged during the past winter.
YOUNGER BROTHERS: Open your ears, and listen to the question asked me by the Wyandots of Sandusky, on the 26th September last: this was the voice of the Wyandots and other tribes of Sandusky:
"BROTHER: Bring forth from the bottom of your heart your sentiments, respecting making a definitive treaty of peace, and upon what terms. We shall deliver our prayers daily to the Great Spirit above, our maker, that he will open your heat and sentiments to us." This was a strong and serious question, upon which the happiness of the United States and the Indian nations mutually depended. The answer made to that question required some explanations, which are tedious, and do not seem at present necessary to repeat; but I will read that part which explains the principles upon which a peace could take place.
"BROTHER: You desired me to bring forth, from the bottom of my heart, my sentiments respecting a peace, and upon what terms it could be obtained.
"BROTHER: I now call upon you to exert your utmost powers of attention, and listen to what I shall say to you. It is now near six years since the chiefs of the Wyandots, Delawares, Ottawas, Chippewas, Pattawatamies, and Sac nations concluded a treaty at the mouth of the Muskingum, with Governor St. Clair, for removing all causes of controversy, and settling the boundaries between them and the United States. That treaty appeared to be founded upon principles of equity and justice, and to be perfectly satisfactory to all parties at that time: I therefore propose that treaty, as a foundation for a lasting treaty of peace between the United States and all your nations of Indians. Should you have any well grounded objections to these principles and to this proposition, come forward and speak your minds freely, and rest assured of a sincere welcome and safe conduct in coming hither, and in returning to your homes, from your friend and brother, Anthony Wayne," &c.
This way my answer to the Wyandots; they are here present, and can testify the truth of it. In consequence of this answer, the Ottawas, Chippewas, Pattawatamies, Sauckeys, Miamies, Delawares, and Shawanese, came forward and signed these preliminary articles, of which you have all, respectively copies. Having now shown you, that I stand here in the place of General Washington, and represent the Fifteen Fires of America; and having shown you the manner in which this happy meeting came about, by an application, first from the Wyandots, whose good example was followed by the other nations, I shall forbear to say any more, as the day is far spent, but to request you to consider what I have said.
BROTHERS: I wish you all clearly to understand that we have progressed so far in the good work, as to explain those preliminary steps. I would advise you to appropriate two or three days to revolve, coolly and attentively, these matters, and those which will naturally follow them. I take you all by the hand. We will now rake up the fire; and, as we have talked a long time, we must be dry, and have a little drink.
Council adjourned, to meet on the 18th.
|
SATURDAY, July 18. |
In Council: Present as before.
The Little Turtle, a Miami chief, addressed the General as follows:
BROTHER: We have heard and considered what you have said to us. You have shown, and we have seen, your powers to treat with us. I came here for the purpose of hearing you. I suppose it to be your wish that peace should take place, throughout the world. When we hear you say so, we will be prepared to answer you. You have told me that the present treaty should be founded upon that of Muskingum. I beg leave to observe to you, that that treaty was effected altogether by the Six Nations, who seduced some of our young men to attend it, together with a few of the Chippewas, Wyandots, Ottawas, Delawares, and Pattawatamies. I beg leave to tell you, that I am entirely ignorant of what was done at that treaty. I hope those who held it may give you their opinion, whether or not it was agreeable to them.
The Sun, a Pattawatamy chief, arose and said:
BROTHER: The Master of Life had pity on me, when he permitted me to come and take you first by the hand. With the same hand and heart I then possessed, I now salute you. When I gave you my hand, you said, "I thank you, and am glad to take your hand, Pattawatamy:" and you thanked the other Indians also, and told them you had opened a road for them to come and see you. When I got this belt from the Americans, they told me the roads were open and clear, and that no obstructions should prevent our coming to see you. I was happy when you gave me the road, [a belt] and so are we all: for we have all travelled it. I hope it will remain free of bushes and thorns as long as Americans and Indians live. You, yourself, have told me it should be so; and that this, (meaning the olive
American State Papers,
Indian Affairs,
March 3, 1789 to March 3, 1815.
vol. 1.
568 |
INDIAN AFFAIRS. |
[1795. |
branch, held by the eagle) was a leaf of that great tree, under whose shade we,
and all our posterity, should repose in safety and happiness.
ELDER BROTHER: We have followed the road you gave us in safety. I now present it to your view as your gift. [Presenting a road belt, with the eagle of the United States attached.]
Mash-i-pi-nash-i-wish, a chief of the Chippewas, arose and said:
Brothers of the different nations present, listen to what our elder brother tells us, with attention; I am satisfied it is the truth; listen to me also.
ELDER BROTHER: Last winter, I heard your word, when you stretched your hands to us, and asked us to come and see you. I never heard before, what the Sun has been observing; when I heard what you said last winter, I took you by the hand; and now, when I returned, I found your gates open to receive me, and that you told me truth. I was deputed by the chiefs of my nation to hear your words, and am happy that they now are convinced of the truth of them. You now also find the truth of my words: that I then came only to carry back your words: and the other chiefs would come to see you. You now see them present, the representatives of their nations: here are the chiefs of the Ottawas, Chippewas, and Pattawatamies. We three are faithful allies, and one of us speaks for the whole, when in council. The words you spoke last winter are fresh on my memory. I know nothing of the treaty in question, which took place at Muskingum: the people who made it are present, and will be able to speak to it. My remote situation on Lake Michigan prevented me from being acquainted with it.
Tarke (or Crane) chief of the Wyandots, arose and said:
Brothers of all nations present, listen!
ELDER BROTHER: I dont think it proper to select any particular nation to speak for the whole. You have kindled the council fire. I wish you to determine what nation shall speak, and appoint a day when we shall all be collected, and when those who are on their way shall have joined us.
The General rose, and said:
BROTHERS: I have paid very great attention to what has been observed by the Miamies, Pattawatamies, Chippewas, and Wyandots; and the day after to-morrow, I will endeavor to fully explain the treaty of Muskingum, of which so many plead ignorance. I will bring to the recollection of the Wyandots, Delawares, Ottawas, Chippewas, Pattawatamies, and Sac nations, what they did at that treaty, and show them and you, their names who witness it. There are some Chippewas approaching, who, perhaps, were at that treaty, and when I look around me, I imagine I see some faces who were present at it. This road (alluding to the Sun's road belt) is the true road. I have a branch similar to this, at my breast. I know them to be of the same tree, and of equal value. This is all I shall say at present. I thank the Great Spirit for assembling so many of us together on this good work, and I hope we will have all things perfectly understood and explained, to our mutual satisfaction, before we part.
Council adjourned, to meet on the 20th.
In the evening of this day, (18th) Blue Jacket, and thirteen Shawanese, and Masass with twenty Chippewas arrived, and were received in the council house.
Masass spoke as follows: I am very happy to be here this day; I was at the treaty of Muskingum, and have it now in my hand to show it you. Nothing but my having it in my possession could have brought me here at this time; for I came voluntarily and unasked. We should have come in greater numbers, but for Brandt's endeavors to prevent us. The Wyandots and Six Nations are counselling. I do not know what may be the result of their conference. I am happy to find so many of my brothers with you. I hope, for the future, they will walk in the right way, and be sincere in their engagements. I again repeat my knowledge of the treaty of Muskingum; as far as I understand it, I have been faithful to it. I have brought these French men with me, that I may be well acquainted with every thing that shall take place. This is all I have to say at present, having travelled far. I am fatigued, require refreshment.- [A white string.]
Blue Jacket spoke as follows:
BROTHER: When I came here last winter, I did not mean to deceive you; what I promised you, I did intend to perform. My wish to conclude a firm peace with you, being sincere, my uneasiness has been great, that my people have not come forward so soon as you would wish, or might expect; but you must not be discouraged by these unfavorable appearances. Some or our chiefs and warriors are here; more will arrive in a few days. You must not, however, expect to see a great number; yet, notwithstanding, our nation will be well represented. Our hearts are open, and void of deceit.
The General spoke as follows:
BROTHER THE CHIPPEWA: I am happy to see you and your people. The open and generous manner in which you have acknowledged being present at, and acquainted with, the treaty at Muskingum, displays an honest, open, and manly heart. I therefore, take you by the hand, with the warmth and friendship of a brother. I know you have come a great way; provision shall be furnished you and your people, to appease your hunger; and you shall have some liquor, also, to quench your thirst, and to enable you to rejoice with your friends and brothers present.
BROTHER THE SHAWANEE: I am well convinced of the integrity of your heart, and that your exertions have not been wanting to bring hither a full representation of your nation, at an earlier hour. I therefore bid you, and my friends with you, a sincere welcome.
19th July.- Blue Jacket, a Shawanee chief, in private conference with the General, spoke as follows:
BROTHER AND ALLY: It is a long time since I left you. I believe it is about five months; many things have occured since that time, which, if you please, I will inform you of, as, perhaps, you may be unacquainted with them. I visited the British, and was kindly received at their garrison, on the Miami. I was asked for news; I had none for them, except that of my kind reception from you. A Mr. Magdalen wrote from thence to Detroit, that he had taken off my blue coat, which I had received from the Americans, and broke my gun, which he also falsely said was presented to my by General Wayne. I did not rest until I exposed this man, and refuted his assertions. I informed all the Indians of my full persuasion of the truth of the kind and benevolent intentions you expressed to me, and that they, in due time, would be convinced of the goodness of your motives. Mr. McKee invited me to his house, and told me he was very sory to find I had acted with such little regard for my people; that he ascribed my strange conduct to the instigations of some evil spirit, who had led me astray from the plain good road, and put me in the path which led towards the Americans. "The commission you received from Johnston, " said he, "was not given you to carry to the Americans. I am grieved to find that you have taken it to them. It was with much regret I learned that you had deserted your friends, who always caressed you, and treated you as a great man. You have deranged, by your imprudent conduct, all our plans for protecting the Indians, and keeping them with us. They have always looked up to you for advice and direction in war, and you have now broke the strong ties which held them all together, under your and our direction. You must now be viewed as the enemy of your people, and the other Indians whom you are seducing into the snares the Americans have formed for their ruin; and the massacre and destruction of these people by the Americans must be laid to your charge."
BROTHER: I am very happy, that, notwithstanding all the difficulties and obstructions I had to encounter from my relations and others at Detroit, I have succeeded so far, in bringing my people to you at this time. I expect intelligence this day of the approach of more of them. I have briefly acquainted you with these things. I repeat my assurances of the sincerity of my sentiments and resolution, to be, for the future, a steady friend to the United States.
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to page 569.
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to page 570.
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to page 571.